Coin inserter for cigarette packages



J. F. TUOHY com INSERTER FoR CIGARETTE PACKAGES March 28, 1950 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1946 March 28, 1950 .1. F. TUO HY COIN INSERTER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 51, 1946 fivuenfon J 71 711012 Patented Mar. 28, 1950 COIN INSERTER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES John F. Tuohy, Olean, N. Y. Application December 31, 1946, Serial No. 719,350

9 Claims. (01. 226-2) The present invention relates to a coin inserter for inserting coins in cigarette packages used in vending machines, and more particularly relates to a coin inserter embodying improvements over the coin inserter of co-pending application, Serial Number 661,387, filed April 11, 1946, now aban donecl, of which this application is a continuationin-part.

B further experimentation and extensive use, I have determined that a coin inserter made in accordance with the teaching of this present invention will automatically adapt itself to occasional bent or distorted coins. This present coin inserter also has means to positively direct the coin or coins into the cigarette package thereby preventing fouling of coins against the end of the cigarette package. A more compact arrangement of the elements and improvements in certain elements themselves are also objects of this invention.

Many other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the present invention, wherein; I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a coin inserter for cigarette packages constructed in e accordance with the present invention, the coin holding hoppers being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same; Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows showing to advantage the manner of mounting the coin hoppers on the inserter frame together with the cigarette package supporting and incising mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary front elevational view of the inserter; and

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary rear elevational view of the inserter.

The coin inserter of the present invention comprises a frame generally designated I, the top 8 of which provides a platform or table which is adapted to receive a solenoid 9 and a coin holder Ill. The front end of the frame is equipped with a bottom plate I I for supporting a cigarette package indicated by dotted lines I2.v The forward end of the frame also carries a side plate l4 against which one side of the cigarette package I2 is adapted to abut. Suitable incising mechanism for the wrapper of the cigarette package is also employed which consists of a knife I 5 and a parallel superimposed presser-foot I6, both the knife and the foot extending forwardly from the front of the frame I as advantageously illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. A flexible element 3| is also mounted on top '8 having an upwardly tion, as a cigarette package is urged on the outer end of the plate I I inwardly toward the framed)" the Wrapper of the package is penetrated by the projecting forward end of the knife I5. Further movement of the package causes the wrapper to be impressed between the knife and the presserfoot I6 correspondingly urging the wrapper slightl away from the package to provide sufficient space between the wrapper and the package for the accommodation of the coins in a manner more fully hereinafter described.

The base I! of the coin holder Ill is yieldably secured to the upper face 8 by means of four bolts 34 and springs 33 thereon. Nuts 35 allow for adjustment of the compression of springs 33. The yieldable mounting thus provided allows the raising of the coin hoppers I0 which are secured at their lower ends to base plate N. This yieldable mounting allows the coin hoppers I 0 to be slightly raised whenever a coin in the mechanism is of unusual thickness or deformed. The base I! of the coin holder I D is normally spaced from the top 8 of the frame by spacer I I or the like, an amount equal to the thickness of the ordinary coin. Coins I8 mounted in the hoppers I I] are permitted to gravitate into engagement with the top of the frame, suificient space being provided to permit the evacuation of a single coin from each hopper. The evacuated or released coins are urged from beneath the hoppers toward and into the space between the cigarette wrapper and its package provided by the incising mechanism.

The solenoid 9, and its assocated mechanism now to be described, constitutes the feeding means for the coins I8. The solenoid 9 embodies a core 6 and an armature I9 movable through a complemental opening extending longitudinally through the body of the solenoid 9. The bottom of the armature I9 is extended to provide a coin pusher plate 20. A stud 36 fastened to pusher plate 20 provides a support for one end of spring 31. The other end of spring 31 is fastened to end member 38 which is secured to frame 7. Spring 31 thus restrains armature IS in its normal position shown in the figures and tends to return armature I9 to this position after solenoid 9 has been actuated. End member 33 is extended to provide an abutment 39 limiting the outward movement of armature I9. A cushion 49 on abutment 39 cooperates with a cushion ie on the armature I9 to absorb the shock incident to return of the armature.

In order to effect energization of the armature i9, there is provided an electric circuit indicated by the wires 26, the solenoid El and also a microswitch 21. The f;ont of the micro-sw.tch is provided with a switch button 28 which is adapted to be actuated by pressure of one end of the cigarette package l2 thereagainst. Electrical energy is supplied from a conventional source through wires 4|.

In the use of this invention, it is to be understood that the armature l9 will be normally held in an outer inoperative position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 through the instrumentality of the spring 3? acting through pusher bar 29. As soon, however, as a package of cigarettes has been moved on the bottom plate H into engagement with the switch button 28, the electric circuit is closed through the wires 26 thereby energizing the solenoid 9 and attracting the armature i9 in an obvious manner. As the armature i9 is attracted into the solenoid body 9, the coin pusher plate 20 is advanced beneath the coin holder in thereby urging'the bottom coins out between knife I and flexible element .3! and then into the opening between the wrapper and the package provided by the knife ii. In passing outwardly, the coins depress the end 32 of flexible element 3i. The flexible element 31 therefore exerts a pressure on-the underside of the coins andacts to guide them, thereby insuring that the coins will enter the cigarette package at the proper anglewithout danger of tearing the package or becoming fouled. After each cycle of operation of the armature through the solenoid body, the armature is retracted under influence of thespring 31.

When an occasional thick or deformed coin reaches the bottom of a coin hopper ill, the pusher plate2il in urging the thick or deformed coin outwardly, will cause the coin hopper H] to rise sufficiently to allow the coin to be pushed out. The operation is therefore completely automatic. The yieldable mounting for the coin hoppers Hi is such that a thick or deformed coin itself forces the coin hopper upward enough to allow the coin to be pushed out.

Various changes may be made herein within the scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A coin inserter for cigarette packages comprising a frame, a solenoid on the frame, a coin holder yieldably mounted on the frame, a core movably mounted in the solenoid, and a coin pusher bar extending from one end of the core and movable beneath the coin holder to urge coins gravitating through the latter into a packheld against one end of the frame, and a spring anchored on said frame and engaged with the core to retract the latter in the solenoid body.

5. A coin inserter for cigarette packages comprising a package-supporting frame, a coreequipped solenoid on the frame, a coin holder yieldably mounted on the frame, mechanism on the frame, operable by pressure of the package 'thereagainst, to actuate said core, and means on the core for urging coins into the package.

6. A coin inserter for cigarette packages comprising a frame, a solenoid mounted on the frame embodying a movable core, a coin holde yieldably mounted on the frame, the bottom of which is spaced from the frame top, means on the solenoid core movable beneath said coin holder to urge coins, which gravitate from the holder, to a point beyond one end of the frame, a cigarette wrapper incising means mounted on the end of the frame toward which said coins are moved, said incising means forming an opening between the cigarette wrapper and package for the accommodation of coins, a flexible element mounted on the frame below the incising means to direct coins passing between the incising .means and the flexible element, and means in electrical connection with said solenoid and operable by movement of the cigarette package on the incising means to effect operation of the solenoid core.

7. In a coin inserter of the type embodying a solenoid-operated pusher bar for urging coins from beneath a coin'hopper into a cigarette package: a yieldable mounting for the coin hoppe to prevent fouling by deformed coins; and a flexible guide to direct coins into the package.

8. A coin inserter for cigarette packages including a frame, a coin holder mounted on the frame in. spaced relation to the latter to permit the passage of coins therebeneath, and means securing the holder to the frame comprising spring carried bolts to permit the holder to yield when a thickened coin is being moved therebeneath.

9. The same as claim 8 with the addition of means on each bolt engageable with its spring to effect adjustment of the latter.

JOHN F. TUOHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,131,843 McMakin Oct. 4, 1938 2,341,973 Brake etv a1 Feb; 15, 1944 

